Space debris engagement and deorbit system

Abstract

Exemplary embodiments described herein include innovative engagement devices. Exemplary engagement devices may include on or more tape spring systems. The tape spring system may include a continuous or segmented bi-stable tape spring. The tape spring can be stowed in a rolled up configuration, extended to a deployed configuration, and then triggered to return to a retracted configuration.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An engagement device, comprising:
 a tape spring; 
 a second tape spring; 
 a structure configured to define a surface between the plurality of tape springs, 
 a deployment device configured to transition the engagement device into a retracted configuration by deforming the tape spring and the second tape spring to enclose a target object within the surface; and 
 an actuator. 
 
     
     
       2. The engagement device of  claim 1 , wherein the engagement device comprises a stored configuration in which the tape spring is at least partially rolled and a deployed configuration in which the tape spring is extended. 
     
     
       3. The engagement device of  claim 2 , wherein the retracted configuration is configured to couple the engagement device to the target object and the deployment device transitions the engagement device into the retracted configuration by perturbing a cross sectional area of the tape spring inducing a buckle in the tape spring so the tape spring reverts from a high energy straight configuration to a low energy configuration. 
     
     
       4. The engagement device of  claim 2 , wherein the actuator is configured to deploy the tape spring from the stored configuration to the deployed configuration in which the tape spring is in an elongated configuration to define an elongated tape spring. 
     
     
       5. The engagement device of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator is configured to retract the elongated tape spring from the deployed configuration to the stored configuration. 
     
     
       6. The engagement device of  claim 5 , wherein the actuator is configured to deform the tape spring to transition the tape spring to the retracted configuration from the deployed configuration. 
     
     
       7. The engagement device of  claim 4 , wherein the deployment device and the actuator are integrated such that the actuator is configured to apply a force to the elongated tape spring to transition the elongated tape spring from a high energy straight state to a low energy state. 
     
     
       8. The engagement device of  claim 1 , wherein the deployment device is configured as a plurality of actuators configured to actuate the plurality of tape springs to collapse to a retracted configuration by a plurality of actuations run sequentially in which a first set of actuations triggers a bend in each of the plurality of tape springs at a first location along a length of each tape spring and a second set of actuations triggers a bend in each of the plurality of tape springs at a second location along the length of each tape spring, wherein the second set of actuations are triggered after the first set of actuations and the second location is toward an outer perimeter of the engagement device and the first location is toward an interior of the engagement device. 
     
     
       9. The engagement device of  claim 1 , wherein the deployment device is the target object and the transition is triggered by a contact force between the deployment device and the target object. 
     
     
       10. A system comprising the engagement device of  claim 1  and further comprising a deorbit engine. 
     
     
       11. A method of coupling to a target object, comprising:
 navigating an engagement device proximate to the target object; 
 extending a plurality of tape springs from a stored configuration to a deployed configuration, wherein the plurality of tap springs comprises a structure defining a surface between the plurality of tape springs; 
 actuating the plurality of tape springs to collapse to a retracted configuration; 
 coupling the engagement device to the target object in the retracted configuration of the tape spring by enclosing the target object within the surface. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the stored configuration has the tape spring in a rolled condition and the deployed configuration has the tape spring in an elongated configuration. 
     
     
       13. A method of coupling to a target object, comprising:
 navigating an engagement device proximate to the target object; 
 extending a plurality of tape springs from a stored configuration to a deployed configuration; 
 actuating the plurality of tape springs to collapse to a retracted configuration by a plurality of actuations run sequentially in which a first set of actuations triggers a bend in each of the plurality of tape springs at a first location along a length of each tape spring and a second set of actuations triggers a bend in each of the plurality of tape springs at a second location along the length of each tape spring, wherein the second set of actuations are triggered after the first set of actuations and the second location is toward an outer perimeter of the engagement device and the first location is toward an interior of the engagement device; and 
 coupling the engagement device to the target object within the retracted configuration of the tape spring.